Improvement in casters for furniture



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. GLAD, OE BOSTON HIGHLANDS, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CASTERS FOR FURNITURE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,530, dated November11,1873; application filed September 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. GLAD, of

Boston Highlands, in the county of Suffolk and in the State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCasters; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved caster. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of thesame with the casing removed upon a vertical central line; and Fig. 3 isa perspective view of a foot for use in place of the roller and itsforked support.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

My invention is designed for use upon heavy articles of furniture, suchas billiard-tables, bookcases, pianos, &c., and is intended to overcomethe difficulties caused by an uneven floor by enabling an equal bearingto be thrown vupon each caster, and per 'g the article to which castersare a ed tebe placed in a proper vertical and horizontal position; towhich end it consists in the means employed for changing vertically theposition of the easter-spindle within its casing, substantially as andfor the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a roller-wheel journaled withinthe forked end b of a spindle, B, in the usual manner, the upper end ofwhich spindle is swiveleclwithin the lower end of a nut or square bar,0, that, from its upper end downward nearly to the swiveled end of saidspindle, is provided with a round threaded opening, 0. opening 0 isfitted a corresponding screw, D, which, at its upper end, is providedwith a bevel-pinion, E, the object of which will be hereinafterexplained. As thus constructed and combined, the caster-spindle and nutare placed within a casing, E, which has any desired exterior form, butinteriorly at its lower end corresponds in size and shape to thehorizontal dimensions of said spindle B, while from said end upward to apoint near its upper end said casing has a rectangular shape, and isslightly larger horizontally than said Within the threaded nut 0. Nearthe upper end of the casing F a flange, f, contracts the interiordimensions, so as to form a bearing for the screw D immediately belowthe pinion E, while above said partition a short shaft, G, is journaledhorizontally, and provided with a bevel-pinion, H, which meshes withsaid pinion E. One end of the shaft G projects through the casing F, andis squared, so as to receive a suitable key for turning the same.

The device is now complete, and operates as follows: The spindle B,being swiveled within the lower end of the nut 0, turns freely withinthe same, and within the bearing formed by the lower end of the casingF, said nut being incapable of rotation by reason of its rectangularshape. When it is desired to raise or lower the portion of the furnitureto which the easteris attached, a key is placed upon the end of theshaft G, and through the same and the pinions H and E the screw D isrotated, so as y to move the nut O longitudinally within its casing, andcorrespondingly change the relative position of the spindle and roller.

For use upon articles of furniture which require to be leveled up, butare seldom moved, the roller A and forks b are removed from the lowerend of the spindle, and a foot, I, secured in place thereof to or uponthe latter. I

The device thus constructed is simple, durable, and efficient, is easilyapplied and readily manipulated, and can be furnished at a comparatively small cost.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, whatI claim as new The spindle B and nut 0, connected together, as shown,within the casing F, and

combined with the screw D, shaft G, and pinions E and H, in the mannerand for thepurpose substantially asspecified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal this 19th day of September, 1873.

G. H. GLAD. [L. s.l

Witnesses A. NAHMIER, VALENTIN SCHNEIDER.

